Summary
The player’s inventory inShin Megami Tensei 5: Vengeanceis as important as one might expect from an RPG, with consumables playing a key role in combat, stat-building, and team composition. Though Cadaver’s Hallow does a sufficient job at providing items like elemental gems and dampeners, the crux ofVengeance’s valuables comes from treasure spotsunearthed throughout Da’at, done so through the help of a trusty navigator. Upping the ante on the variety of navigators available in the netherworld’s different wards,Vengeancegives many of them the spotlight they deserve through new side quests, building upon both lore and personality.
As players progress throughShin Megami Tensei 5: Vengeance, there are plenty of tools at their disposal to strategize and build on their demonic party. Doing so requires effort both in and outside combat, as exploration throughout Da’at relies on the Nahobino scaling tall buildings and winding cliffsides in order to reach treasure spots and essences. Navigators are vital to this process, helping to pinpoint these locations and deliver valuable goods like Grimoires, Gospels, and more. Though some might consider the act of stopping at treasure spots tedious,Vengeancegives plenty of incentives to do so.
Shin Megami Tensei 5: Vengeance Gives its Navigators a Greater Spotlight
New Demon Navigators
Areas like the train line outside of Bethel Egypt in Minato can be excellent for gathering resources through treasure spots, being especially worth returning to for the endgame grind.Minato is only the first ward inVengeance, however, and as the player explores locations like Shinjuku, there are chances to traverse new lands and recruit new navigators, each with their own merit.
Iconic demons like Alice can be enlisted to navigate alongside the Nahobino, while others like Decarabia have been brought back fromShin Megami Tensei 5, albeit in a different setting. Some demons like Yatagarasu and Amabie will offer to join the Nahobino after completing requests that play into their personalities, though there are even more involved side quests that tie into a newVengeancefeature.
Magatsuhi Wavelength Quests
Vengeancehas moments wherethe Nahobinocan align his Magatsuhi wavelength with a demon navigator, controlling them for a short amount of time while they offer fun dialogue that plays into their lore and personality. The side quest for Alice, for example, has her converse with lost souls who she has trapped to play with, including a clever nod to Alice in Wonderland through a Nekomata, who laments her role as the Cheshire Cat. Amanozako and Mu Shuwuu’s quests see them interacting with relics of humanity, like old AC units and vending machines, giving insight into their thoughts on human culture. These quests do a great job of highlighting both dark and funny moments, building on the original’s charm.
Building On Navigators' Personalities
As an excellent display of the depth in personality thatVengeance’s demonscan have, there is even a navigator quest that has the Nahobino controlling Pixie, who enlists the player’s help in uncovering a mystery. Calling herself Ace Detective Pixie, she requires that the Nahobino listen to fairies' testimonies to determine who might have stolen a “silvery fruit,” which ends up being a concentration of Glory that can be taken as a reward. The quest acts as a mini-game that has the player speak to groups that only lie, only tell the truth, or a combination of the two, relying on deductive reasoning skills to complete.
For players exploringVengeance’s Taito ward, an adorable navigator quest with the Nahobeeho, a cosplaying Jack Frost who idolizes the Nahobino’s looks and skills, offers some great comedic moments. Though not all ofVengeance’s navigators have their own quests, the sheer variety of them available and the details in their dialogue show the lengthsVengeancehas taken to make its navigators feel alive within its world. Alongside other quests and features, like the game’s Demon Haunts, uniqueMagatsuhi skills, and more,Vengeancetakes into consideration its varied compendium and the demons that inhabit it. Its navigators are no exception, making them worthwhile beyond their means of finding treasure.
